Shift gate light

[elau]

It has been quite a while since I took my SL out for a night drive. I noticed that there is no light illuminating my shift gate. Logic told me there should be one, but I do not remember. My ML has light illuminating the shift gate. If my bulb is out, how do I change it? Any help will be appreciated.

95 R129
98 W163

[Gilly]

Replacing the bulb is difficult on a 129, due to the fact the wood trim has to come off. Once that is done, it's easy, the bulb base plugs into the shifter. Just pull out the base and plug in a new bulb.....Gilly Again

[sublettd]

Gilly,

How about the shifter light replacement on the 107 (500 SL)??? Can't seem to get the plastic piece off without risking breaking it or the wood.

Thanks,

Don

[Gilly]

A 107 500SL is gray market. i assume it's similar to a 380SL (mid eighties). Take out the ash tray, then there are 2 phillips screws that hold the ash tray frame in, remove those, then tip out the frame and disconnect the electrical connector to the frame. I believe you'll see 2 more phillips screws holding down the wood plate. Just remove those and the front of the wood plate will pull up, then move the plate slightly forward to allow the rear to become disengaged from the center console.
Gilly

[sublettd]

Gilly,

I'd have never considered going about it in that manner. That's one reason why this board is so beneficial. Thanks for your time and insights.

Don

[Gilly]

No prob Don, happy to help.
If you get the ash tray frame out, and there are no screws holding the front of the wood down, just lift up on the front of the wood.
The socket for the bulb slips into the side of the shifter assembly (or maybe the front), it will have 2 wires going to the socket. The bulb may require a trip to the dealer, not something I suspect you'll find at a normal parts dealer.
What year is the car, and also are you in the US or overseas?
Gilly

[sublettd]

Gilly,

I probably have a bulb since I have two other MBs--an '82 300D w/272,000 and an '82 300TD 2/130k on it. This one is an '85 500SL which my son came across in Houston back in Dec. It has about 94,000 on it. It's the classic MB Signal Red and is in "pristine" condition both body and interior.

Paid $8k for the car and have put another $3.5k in it so far. Some guy wrote a message on one of these boards which said if you buy one of this vintage you'll have to do this, this, this, and this to it. He was so much on target that it's eerie. I've looked for that message so I could comment on his astuteness, but I haven't been able to relocate it.

Have to put the new soft top on it still and may yet have to replace the environmental control unit that mounts behind the glove box on the right side. The car has dual climate control dials on it, so it's a bit unique in that regard. What's really unique though is I thought the black box would cost about $258.00 (per the dealership here). However, I got a quote from Philip through MercedesShop and was told the price had gone up to the tune of $1,500.00. OUCH!!!!!!!!

I'm located in N.W. Florida and my son runs a Precision Measurement Equipment lab in Houston. He thinks that he might be able to fix it. I wasn't concerned at $200.00, but I'm more than a bit concerned with this latest revelation. ha! So, I'm hopeful I can dodge that bullet.

Again, appreciate the insight on the shifter bulb. Will tackle it tomorrow and see what I come up with.

Thanks,

Don

[sublettd]

Gilly,

Your directions for fixing the shift gate light on my 500SL were 'spot on'! However... Fix one problem and up crops another!!!

In the process of replacing the bulb I somehow screwed up the cigar lighter (radar detector) and the bulb still doesn't work. Have checked the fuse panel and no fuses appear blown. Didn't pull them so it's possible one is cracked at/near the tip. Don't think I "abused" any of the wiring in the process.

Any idea what I might have done?

Thanks,

Don

[Gilly]

Sounds like maybe a wiring problem. The ashtray and lighter have sliding contacts on the edge of the tray assembly itself, you'll want to make sure the ashtray is assembled into the frame properly for the contacts to be positioned as they should. If you had the frame out, I'm sure you noticed where the plug connector plugs into the frame, and that it's important to have this plugged in.
The power to the shift gate comes from the same terminal as the instrument lights and radio illumination, so tell me if the cluster and radio illumination work as they should.
The brown wire at the shifter light also provides a ground for the radio and cigar lighter/ashtray light. Is the radio itself working?
The ground that is used, G102, is located inside the dash to the right of the glovebox, you'll need to remove the box to access the ground.
Gilly

[sublettd]

Gilly,

Everything is working except for the cigar lighter (plug is connected) and the shift gate light that I replaced. Will take it apart and check the ground to make sure it is connected. Thanks once again for your time and insight.

Don

[maheath]

My 1988 560SL has the same problem. The Electrical diagram shows the shift pattern illuminator, the radio illumination, and the intstruments Illumination Rheostat on that circuit. Oops, there's also the Front Cigar Lighter with Ashtray Illumination.

Anyway, I was unaware that the ashtray was supposed to be illuminated, mine isn't. The cigar lighter works, my instruments are lighted, but my shift pattern illuminator is not working even with the new bulb (the old bulb still looks good). The wires look good all the way back to where it goes between the glove box and behind the radio.

BTW, I think the shift pattern bulb is 12V and 2W. I took my old one into a specialty bulb place and they had them in stock for about $1.25. The local Pep Boys did not carry them.

[Gilly]

Don:
If you have the knowledge and at least a test light,preferrably a multimeter, you should test the socket for the shiftlight bulb to see if you are missing the power (at the gray wire with puple stripe) or ground at the brown wire, this can help diagnose what's going on.
Gilly

[sublettd]

Gilly,

Pulled everything back out this afternoon to check it and put it back together. Still same results--no radar detector or shift gate light.

My son is the electronics expert in the family. Will hook up with him in Baton Rouge in a couple weeks and get him to tackle it for me. The cigar lighter/radar detector was working before I changed the bulb.

Unlike Mahalt's, don't believe my lighter illuminates--on a good day. If it did before, I'll bet it doesn't now. ha!

Oh, well. Thanks for your time once again. Will let you know when we get it fixed.

Don

[rjpeters98]

I also need to replace the shift gate light in my 94 sl500. Unfortunately I cannot get past the first step. How do you get the climate control unit out? Also, what is the trick for pulling the radio (bose model)out?

[Gilly]

Your comparing 2 totally different models. Your 94 will require the use of special tool "keys" to remove both the radio and climate control unit. Your dealer will be able to order these for you. It's gets tougher from there. i understand and appreciate you wanting to do it yourself, but that wood trim is pretty pricey, you may want to have the dealer do this repair.
Gilly